Although the food in the United States is very safe,
occasionally major outbreaks of food poisoning occur
that can be traced to a breakdown in the food handling
system. Larger outbreaks can be identified and traced to
their source because each state has a list of diseases that
health professionals are required to report to the county
public health service once positive diagnosis is made.
Most states require that doctors and hospitals report
confirmed cases of disease caused by Salmonella and
E. coli 0157:H7 and several other food poisoning pathogens.
This information is then passed on to the CDC.
Most food poisoning occurs to single individual
or to a small group of people, such as a family at a
picnic. A major food poisoning outbreak is suspected
when many people develop the same symptoms of
food poisoning within a short time or within the
same geographic area.
A major outbreak sets off a
full investigation by a team of microbiologists, food
scientists, process engineers, specialists in food sanitation,
and others. In a larger outbreak, the CDC usually
coordinates the investigation.
The CDC has
established a special system called FoodNet to monitor
food poisoning reports and look for patterns that
suggest an outbreak. Information on chemical and
natural toxin poisonings is also collected by the American
Association of Poison Control Centers.
